After almost half a century, Tottenham are back at Europe’s top table. Little wonder that manager Harry Redknapp said it was time for the players to “seize the opportunity” even if he admitted that it would be “very difficult” to emulate the achievements of Bill Nicholson and the boys of 1961-62. “The key for me was getting this far,” he said. “My dread was going out in the qualifier.”

It was Levy’s dread also. He felt “sick but calm” as Spurs trailed 3-0 to Young Boys of Berne after half an hour of the first leg of last month’s play-off — before turning the tie around to reach the group stages. No longer did Spurs stall at amber. Finally they had the green light.